The wildly successful Marvel cinematic universe (MCU) has just reached a new milestone, casting out trans actors as “featured extras” in its latest installment.
Sure, it’s no queer superhero, but the move is being lauded as an earnest push towards inclusion.
Related: Spider-Man’s Tom Holland crushes Rihanna’s “Umbrella” in lip-synch challenge
The upcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home film finds everyone’s favorite neighborhood Spider-Man, aka Peter Parker, on a European adventure with his classmates where he must battle Mysterio, played by Jake Gyllenhaal.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Two trans performers — American actor Zach Barack and British actor Tyler Luke Cunningham — play Parker’s classmates.
After the release of the trailer on Tuesday, Barack shared his appreciation on Twitter, writing: “Being able to work with other trans people is a gift. Trans people are a gift. Im so lucky to be me”
Being able to work with other trans people is a gift. Trans people are a gift. Im so lucky to be me
— zach (@zach_l_b) January 16, 2019
A Spider-Man fan account echoed that sentiment, calling the Far From Home casting a “diverse masterpiece”.
Related: How trans actor Jake Graf of ‘Colette’ came out and found his voice for equality in film
“Not only [is there a Muslim character who’s more than just an extra],” they wrote, “but we have two trans actors playing students as well, one of which is a black man. ffh is going to be a diverse masterpiece”.
not only that, but we have two trans actors playing students as well, one of which is a black man. ffh is going to be a diverse masterpiece https://t.co/4vSayiODb3
— juliah will never recover (@spideystights) September 30, 2018
Here’s a look at Barack and Cunningham’s Instagrams — we can only hope the two get some quality screen time in the finished film:
While queer characters abound in Marvel comic books, the MCU has been reluctant to feature LGBTQ storylines.
A bisexual coming out scene for Tessa Thompson’s character in Thor: Ragnorok, Valkyrie, was left on the cutting room floor.
Watch the trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home below:
MarathonBoy
So a transgender nobody with 5,000 followers on Instagram gets a bit part in a movie, with probably 5 words of dialogue, and another transgender is an extra. And this is supposed to be news of interest to gay people for some reason?
Kangol
Clearly it was news enough to you to get you ranting about trans people, so Queerty did its job, no?
MarathonBoy
No, since my comment is directed at the bizarre editorial priorities of Queerty, not the “news” item per se.
Doctor Benway
So, again ,what matters is that they are trans and not actors. That’s called discrimination.
njzdmyz
Bitter queens always have something negative to say